The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06
OUR DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
Some Interesting Facts Furnished by a
Man Who Speaks from Experience.
glishman. and Utterly Useless So Far AS
American Interests Are Concerned.
OUR FOREIGN AGENTS.

Facts Illustrating the Utter Use1essness of
Our so-CaiIed Diplomatic System.
Special to the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Nov 5-Congress, at the ap-
preaching session, will undoubtedly pass the
bill proposed at the last session, providing for
inspectors of the consular and diplomatic
Offices throughout the coutries where there are
American representatives During the past
summer Senators and Representatives
have visited Europe than during any year in
the past, and what they saw and heard concern
ing the conduct Of our consular and diplom attic
service has impressed them with a necessity
for radical changes. There has been no
perceptible Improvement in our foreign
service since the wars gu AFTER of a century ago,
while in many localities the procedures laid
down by Henry Clay are being followed scrup-
ulously. What I saw at the American legation
in ST. Petersburg. where Mr.. Lothrop, of Mich
igan, is stationed, is a pretty good example OF
the management of the American service in
nearly every country. When 1 entered the
headquarters there was no indication of what
business was transacted at the place. No
A merican flag foated on the outside, and but
diminutive sign, smaller than that OF a regular
physician of the old school. announced that it
was the Office of the American ministry. was
asked to send my card in, before I could learn
whether the minister was at his post AS usu-
AL the man in charge wanted to ascertain
whether was on business to annoy him before
he could see me. Word came back that the
minister not in. I then remembered that
my card simply bore my name and residence.
Next day 1 tried again to see the minister.
This time sent in my professional card
newspaper correspondent is sometimes given
more consideration than those who have not a
forum from which to address the public. The
minister was not in, but the secretary. who was
in charge, was in. He came out to greet me,
and was quite profuse in his politeness, but
there was a vacuum about it which should not
have existed The secretary English
man, ignorant Of America, Americans. and their
wants. He evidently has sympathy either
with our people or our institutions, and doubt
not If he had an opportunity would favor
England to the exclusion Of the government
which gives him q salary. The fellow a
blooming dude, such as one sees on the
promenades at London and the cricket grounds at
Brighton. He confined himself in his converse
ton to archery, cricket and society. He knew
nothing about the diplomatic or business inter
ests of America He knew that Minister Lo-
throp was somewhere away for his daughters
health, and that he had rendered little Tor
service in his Office. He even knew that the
Minister did not like the country or his position.
and that he was considering precipitate depart
ure for America, to remain. The secretary was
un-American that he could not perform the
business did he have directions. because his sym
pathies were apparently not American. At least
he showed none Of the instincts of the American.
The condition Minister Lothrop found his
Office in his predecessor encountered and the
ministers before him had the same experience.
secretary in the Office who knew the run
of the routine, and who could keep mp the form
of correspondence. and. as the Minister knew
nothing of his duties. and was not anxious about
them, he simply retained the secretary. and SO
no changes have occurred, and mono are likely.